In September 2025 the Mathematics department will be offering two courses in Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches (at Higher level) and Applications & Interpretations (at Standard level)

MATHEMATICS: ANALYSIS AND APPROACHES (Higher Level)

This course caters for students with a very good background in Mathematics who are competent in a range of analytical and technical skills. The majority of these students will be expecting to include Mathematics as a major component of their university studies, either as a subject in its own right or within courses such as physical sciences, engineering or economics, for example. Others may take this subject because they have a strong interest in Mathematics and enjoy meeting its challenges and engaging with its problems.

The nature of this subject is such that it focuses on developing important mathematical concepts in a comprehensible, coherent and rigorous way. This is achieved by means of a carefully balanced approach: students are encouraged to apply their mathematical knowledge to solving problems set in a variety of meaningful contexts while development of each topic should feature justification and proof of results. Students embarking on this course should expect to develop insight into mathematical form and structure, and should be intellectually equipped to appreciate the links between concepts in different topic areas.

The internally assessed component in this course is a mathematical exploration. This is a short report written by the student based on a topic of their choice. The emphasis is on mathematical communication (including formulae, diagrams, graphs etc.), with accompanying commentary, good mathematical writing and thoughtful reflection.  The exploration will allow students to develop areas of interest to them without a time constraint as in an examination, and allow all students to experience a feeling of success.

The Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches course consists of the study of the following topics (percentages are the approximate proportion of time dedicated to each topic):

• Number and algebra (15%)

• Functions (15%)

• Geometry and Trigonometry (20%)

• Statistics and Probability (10%)

• Calculus (25%)

• Mathematical Exploration (15%)

This course is clearly a demanding one, requiring students to study a broad range of mathematical topics through a number of different approaches and to varying degrees of depth. The Higher level course is therefore only accessible to students who have achieved Grade 8 or 9 at GCSE Mathematics. Students wishing to study Mathematics in a less rigorous environment should therefore opt for Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations Standard level.

As well as the coursework, worth 20% of the final grade, there are three examination papers at the end of the course. Paper 1 is a 120 minute non-calculator exam worth 30%. Paper 2 is a 120 minute calculator exam worth 30%. Paper 3 is a 60 minute exam worth 20% and consisting of long-response questions. 

All students studying Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches will be required to have access to a graphical calculator. The model we shall be using is the Casio fx-CG50 and this can be obtained from the school Finance Office at the start of term.

MATHEMATICS: APPLICATIONS AND INTERPRETATION (Standard Level)

This course is appropriate for students who are interested in developing their mathematics for describing our world and solving practical problems. They will also be interested in harnessing the power of technology alongside exploring mathematical models. Students who take Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation will be those who enjoy mathematics best when seen in a practical context. It is suitable for students with varied backgrounds and abilities. More specifically it is designed to build confidence and encourage an appreciation of mathematics in students who may not necessarily anticipate a need for mathematics in their future studies. Students embarking on this course need to have GCSE maths at the higher tier and to have achieved at least a Grade 5.

The nature of Mathematics: Applications and interpretation is such that it concentrates on mathematics which can be applied to contexts related as far as possible to other subjects being studied, to common real-world occurrences and to topics that relate to home, work and leisure situations. The programme includes a mathematical exploration. This is a short report written by the student based on a topic of their choice. The emphasis is on mathematical communication (including formulae, diagrams, graphs etc.), with accompanying commentary, good mathematical writing and thoughtful reflection. The exploration will allow students to develop areas of interest to them without a time constraint as in an examination, and allow all students to experience a feeling of success.

The Mathematics: Applications and interpretations course consists of the study of the following topics (percentages are the approximate proportion of time dedicated to each topic):

• Number and algebra (10%)

• Functions (20%)

• Geometry and Trigonometry (10%)

• Statistics and Probability (25%)

• Calculus (15%)

• Mathematical Exploration (20%

There are two examination papers at the end of the course, each worth 40% of the final grade. Paper 1 consists of 90 minutes of short-response questions. Paper 2 consists of 90 minutes of long-response questions. The exploration (coursework) makes up the remaining 20% of the overall grade.

All students studying Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations will be required to have access to a graphical calculator. The model we shall be using is the Casio fx-CG50 and this can be obtained from the school Finance Office at the start of term.

SUMMER 2024 RESULTS

Applications and Interpretations (Standard level)

• 49% of students achieved grades 6 +
• 96% of students achieved grade 4 +

Analysis and Approaches (Higher level)

• 24% of students achieved grades 6 +
• 82% of students achieved grades 4 +